Srinagar, Aug 25: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up with union Home Minister Amit Shah the issue of releasing Kashmiri prisoners and shifting detainees lodged in jails outside the union Territory back to Jammu and Kashmir.
She said this after leading a party protest for the prisoners lodged in various jails.
PDP protesters carrying placards and raising slogans of “Bail, not Jail” attempted to march from the party headquarters in Srinagar to Lal Chowk, but were stopped by a heavy deployment of police. The workers also shouted slogans against the ruling National Conference government.
Later, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti addressed the party workers, stressing that the protest was “not political but a humanitarian issue.”
“We had gathered here for thousands of prisoners languishing in different jails, both in Jammu and Kashmir and outside. Many of them are innocent,” she said. “I appeal to Omar Sahib to take up this issue with the Home Minister sahib so that the innocents are released from jails.”
She said that if Chief Minister can’t do this atleast those persons jailed outside J&K should be brought back.
Mehbooba alleged that most of the families of detainees can’t fight the legal battles due to financial restraints.
“Whether it is our leaders, the elders of Jamaat-e-Islami, or Shabir Shah or others — when they suffer from serious illnesses, their families have to make desperate efforts to secure treatment,” she said. “If this is the condition of the leaders, then what will happen to ordinary people of Jammu and Kashmir? Who will care for their ailments?”,” she asked.
She appealed to Omar Abdullah to meet Home Minister and request him to bring prisoners back to Jammu and Kashmir so that parents can wards and their cases can be resolved
Mehbooba suggested that an all-party delegation or, if not feasible, a ministerial team should be sent to visit jails outside J&K.
